CATHOLIC school teachers are intensifying their campaign for better wages and working conditions after their employer sparked anger by drawing up a non-union offer.

About 700 teachers and support staff met around the state yesterday during an unprecedented 24-hour strike over pay and conditions.

Their employer, the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office, has pulled out of negotiations after 18 months and, in a rare move, will put its own deal to staff. They said less than half of the staff were members of the Independent Education Union.

At meetings in Hobart, Launceston and Devonport, staff voted unanimously to run a “vote no’’ campaign on the non-union agreement, run a community campaign and, if necessary, intensify industrial action.

“Trying to force their own non-union agreement on their employees is reprehensible, lacks integrity and is an unprecedented, aggressive move,” the motion read.

Comments on this story

Ian Bartle of Upper Rosny Posted at 4:34 PM August 13, 2014

Because Larry Bird, before you sign a contract and actually commence working with an organisation you have NOTHING to bargain with! IF you start querying the pay or terms of the job, they just circular file your app and move on to the next applicant. What planet do you live on? You commence industrial action if you feel you are being underpaid for the work you do, not because you feel you could do a lot more work, for just a little bit more remuneration. Yes they expect a pay rise because despite doing the same work, the money they get is worth less now and it won't pay all the bills. DUH! A big part of the gripe is the standing down of the extra staff without which the system won't run. Same as in the State system actually, where the AEU tried the softy softly approach for years to try and get these people a fair deal. It is greatly to the credit of the IEU workforce that they are prepared to make such a strong stand on this issue - it is about much more than simple dollars.

Paul Mannion of Launceston Posted at 6:20 PM August 09, 2014

Larry Bird
1) Staff don't sign a contract as such. The Tasmanian Catholic Education Agreement 2009 is the 'contract'. This is an 83 page document that is very complex and not easily accessible to staff - which the TCEO have acknowledged. This is updated every 3 or so years via the Collective Bargaining process. A process the TCEO has now walked away from.
2) The issues have nothing to do with salary increases.
3) No "poor kids and their families" were put out by this strike. All schools were open and it was 'business as usual' as the TCEO have stated...
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/tasmanian-catholic-education-director-says-it-will-be-business-as-usual-in-schools-tomorrow-despite-statewide-teachers-strike/story-fnj4f7k1-1227015314598